angles to
his former course.

The whine of machine-gun bullets sounded over his head to the starboard.
Then the leaden hail was drowned by the bark of the open exhaust.

He had done the right thing that time. To have tried to dodge at speed
would have turned the _Richard_ over. Now he was safe for a few seconds
at least he reflected, as he watched the light traveling over his former
course.

As the rays again bent shoreward he saw a long point projecting out into
the sea. Beyond the jutting promontory he would be safe. Running a
course which would carry him clear of the point by a narrow margin he
settled low in his seat and dashed forward.

The fog-dimmed light hovered about the point as the _Richard_ plunged
boldly into the focus of its dripping beams. As the launch veered to
make the turn, the waters astern were splashed by the steel pellets from
the _Bennington's_ machine-gun. Then the gunner of the revenue cutter
began to raise his sights. Splinters flew from the _Richard's_ stern.
The coaming was riddled as the deadly hail moved toward the bow.

The gunner on the _Bennington_ ceased grinding as the launch disappeared
behind the point.

"I could have got that bird in one more second," he muttered ruefully.
"If the old man would let us move, we can get him yet."

Gregory threw off the power and hurdled the seat.

"Are you hurt?" he called to Dickie as he hurried toward the stern.

Dickie Lang was not hurt. Only cut by a flying splinter. It was nothing.
The girl made her way forward.

"Let me take her until we clear the coast," she said. "You gave me the
shivers the way you grazed that reef off China Point."

As they inclined their ears into the gray mist which enveloped them,
they caught the murmur of the _Fuor d'Italia's_ exhaust.

Gregory surrendered the wheel.

The girl listened to the rapid-fire pulsations of the boat ahead.

"He's headed out to sea," she said. "And we're going to have to drive to
catch him with this lead."

Her words were drowned in the thunder of the _Richard's_ motor and the
speed-launch bounded away to overtake her hated rival.

* * * * *

"The fog is lifting. Soon it will be clear. We must watch closely for
pursuit."

Mascola grunted a reply to Bandrist's observations. Weather conditions
meant very little to him at the present moment. His mind was occupied
with matters of far more importance.

It would be well to know just where Bandris